By Keith Hickey

In the first public vote conducted by the MLS club, an overwhelming majority elected to retain the services of general manager Adrian Hanauer.

The Seattle Sounders are staying the course. On Thursday night, the club announced that Sounders fans had voted to give the team's general manager, Adrian Hanauer, four more years in the job.

Eligible supporters cast 13,775 votes, resulting in an overwhelming majority - 13,271, or more than 96 percent - choosing to retain the regime that has seen Seattle qualify for the MLS Cup playoffs in every year of its existence, and reach four consecutive U.S. Open Cup finals, lifting the trophy three years in a row before succumbing to Sporting Kansas City this summer.

The club's charter requires a vote on the general manager conducted among season ticket holders and members of the Alliance fan group every four years, a situation unique in MLS.